Amarillo official, ex-WT Buff part of NFL call controversy

NFL official Richard Simmons of Amarillo, center, breaks up an altercation between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers on Monday after a game at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Green Bay, 14-12.

NFL official Richard Simmons of Amarillo, center, breaks up an altercation between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers on Monday after a game at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Green Bay, 14-12.

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The speed and pressure of a National Football League game can overwhelm even the most talented rookies, but those factors are magnified for replacement officials who have little experience beyond lower-level college games.

“It would be no different if you were watching Division III football players taking the place of the NFL players,” said Bill Topp, vice president of publishing for Referee magazine and the National Association of Sports Officials based in Racine, Wis. “It wouldn’t be the same game.”

That was evident Monday, when the Seattle Seahawks topped Green Bay on a controversial last-second play.

Richard Simmons of Amarillo worked as a field judge on the crew of replacement officials, but wasn’t involved in the disputed call that dominated the airwaves Tuesday.

Officials ruled Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate caught a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass when the ball appeared to have been intercepted. Former West Texas A&M University star Charly Martin, now a receiver for the Seahawks, was involved in the final play.

Simmons was on the opposite side of the field when Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings got their hands on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s desperation throw.

But Simmons and his fellow replacements across the league all are part of a firestorm amid the lingering labor feud between the NFL and the regulars who ordinarily wear the stripes.

As field judge, Simmons was one of three officials, along with the side judge and back judge, who line up downfield to focus primarily on passing plays, Topp said.

The officials ruled on the field that Tate and Jennings had simultaneous possession, which counts as a reception. Once that happened, the NFL said the official was correct that no indisputable visual evidence existed on review to overturn the touchdown call.

The Packers say they were robbed.

Simmons did not return calls Tuesday. The league frowns on officials talking to media.

Officials such as Simmons face scrutiny and second-guessing at any level, but nothing like what replacements endured Tuesday in the wake of another weekend of controversial calls.

On-field officials try to eliminate the potential for incorrect calls by bracketing every play to cover as many angles as possible, Topp said.

For example, the back judge and side judge converged on the final play of Monday’s game, which was on the left side of the field, he said.

The field judge would be involved on a play on the right side of the field, he said.

On close plays, officials should make eye contact with each other and have a short conversation to discuss what each official saw, Topp said.

If there is a discrepancy, the officials would ask other officials who saw the play, Topp said.

The referee also would huddle with all of the officials to sort out what each one saw and gather as much information as possible to make the correct call, he said.

“That’s why we have a crew officiating,” Topp said. “That’s why there are seven people out there in an NFL game. In order to get the play right, sometimes we’ve got to get together and talk about the angles of what we saw.”

Topp said officials do not have to make a signal on the play immediately, although it is preferred.

“If you’ve got to take a minute to do that, it’s certainly worth getting it right by taking that minute (rather) than going through what happened (Monday) night,” Topp said.

Topp said the biggest challenge for replacement officials is the difference in players’ talent levels and the speed of the game.

He said most regular NFL officials have spent 10 to 20 years officiating high school and college games before they are ready for the pros.

Like players, officials need experience at lower levels, he said. That is why the jump to the NFL for replacements is so difficult, he said.

“To work Division II, Division III or high school can be challenging in and of itself, but we’re talking about the elite athletes that they have in the National Football League,” Topp said. “It is a huge leap.”